Electric indicator



(No Model.)

W. E. DECROW.

ELECTRIC INDICATOR. No. 478,274. Patented July 5, 1892.

WITNESSES INVENTIJR um ufHm, wAsmum-on, n. c.

o UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. DECROW, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC INDICATOR.-

SPECIIEIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 478,274, dated July 5, 1892.

Application filed March 8, 1892.

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. DEcRoW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suifolk, State ot'lvlassachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

In the indicators now universally employed to indicate visually in engine-houses the numbers of the alarm-signals turned in it has been necessary for an attendant after a certain lapse of time to reset the indicator by hand to make it ready for a second alarm. In doing this it has been often found that a second alarm comes in before the indicator has been reset or while it is being reset by the operator and confusion thereby produced.

My improvements consists in means for antomatically resetting an indicator-by bringing all the wheels contained in the apparatus back to the 0 point and leaving the apparatus in condition to be operated byasecond alarm after a definite lapse of time.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows in elevation an indicator of well-known construction with my attachment applied thereto.

Referring to the drawing, it may be premised that a detailed description of the indicator is not essential, as it is of a type well known to those skilled in the art. In general it may be described as follows: i

A A A are three wheels placed side by side and concentric with one another and each having the numbers from 1 to 9 plainly indicated on the peripheries. The purpose of the machine is to turn these wheels in succession a sufficient distance to bring to the front the number corresponding to the breaks in the electric circuit that are produced by any local signal-box from which an alarm is sent. Thus if box No. 234 is pulled wheel A will be turned automatically a sufficient dis tance to bring the figure 2 into position, and the wheels A and A will be turned, re

spectively, a sufficient distance to bring the I, numbers 3 and 4 into position, after which the number 234 will be visible and enable the firemen to read from the indicator the number of the box from which an alarm has been sent. WVithout going into details, it may be said that this is accomplished by a Serial No. 424,112. (No model.)

make one turn and force connecting-rod D against one of the three ratch et-levers E E E The rod D is guided by a retarded escapement across the face of the three levers, soas to strike one after another in succession, giving to each the requisite number of impulses to bring the numbered wheels around to the desired position. As at present constructed, after this mechanism has been operated it has been necessary to reset it by pullingahandle F. (Shown in dotted lines.) This handle was connected to the rod G, which in turn operated a rock-shaft H, having three radial fingers J J J Vhen handle F was pulled, these three fingers would be'brought down into contact, respectively, with the ends of three rack rods K K K which by suitable gearing would engage with the numbered wheels and turn them back to the 0 position; and my invention consists in a device for accomplishing this restoration automatically at the end of adefinite period. The means which Ihave devised for accomplishing this are indicated in the lower left hand corner of the apparatus, where a wheel L is journaled and operated by a weight M or any equivalent motive device. On the shaft of this wheelL is a long cam N, which in turning engages with a pin 0 on rod G and forces it downward under the influence of the weight M until the rod is depressed a sufficient distance to reset the numbered wheels by the engagement of the fingers J J J 2 with the bars K K K in the mannerabove described. The wheel L is held against rota tion bya stop P, consisting of a pivoted lever normally spring-pressed into a notch in the periphery of wheel L. stop P. projects into the path of a radial extension on eccentric C, so that whenever the apparatus is started the said projection forces stop P out of engagement with the notch in wheel L, and the wheel being thus tripped will continue to make one complete rotation, the duration of which is timed by means of a fan R. The duration of the rotation of wheel L is so timed as to make it certain that a complete signal is turned in before the cam N comes round into position to reset the numbered wheels.

It will be apparent that by my invention the apparatus is made completely automatic and needs no attention, except at such times as it may be necessary to rewind the clock-work.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with an indicatorhaw ing aseries of numbered parts, of electricallycontrolled means for moving said parts so as to give a desired indication and a resetting device controlled by said means and timed to reset the indicator after a definite lapse of time.

2. The combination, with an indicator consisting of a number of wheels having figures on their peripheries and means for rotating the wheels such a distance, respectively, as will bring into visible position the figures corresponding to the number of breaksin an electric circuit, of a resetting device for such indicator, consisting of means for rotating the said wheels to their 0 position by means of a weight or other suitable motive force, a controlling device for the same dependent upon the operating of the indicator, and means for timing thesaid resetting device so as to 0perate after a definite lapse of time.

3, The combination, with an indicator con- I sisting of a number of wheels adapted to be rotated a certain distance, respectively, to bring into visible position corresponding figures on their peripheries, of means for rotating these wheels in succession controlled by the breaks in an electric circuit and a resetting device for bringing the wheels to their 0 position and timed to actuate them at definite intervals after the registration has been completed.

4. The combination, with the numbered WheelsA A A of an electro-magnet 13, controlling the rotation of said wheels, a resetting dcvice consisting of a rod G, adapted to actuate ratchet-rods K K K engaging with the said wheels, respectively, and means for automatically operating said rod G, consisting of the cam N, motive weight M, wheel L, a stop P for said wheel, controlled by the mechanism of the register, and a retardingfan R, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand this 27th day of February, 1892.

W'ILLIAM E. DECROIV.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. R. BLonenTT, N. F. HAYES. 

